conversations with invisible pigs and sheep

Just a reminder about some of the ways you can help out Jim’s school:

Indirectly:

Directly:
Jim has to meet a certain fundraising goal (I think it’s $50, but it might be $250). Any fundraising in his name goes towards that goal. Upcoming events are:

In other news, Jim’s “allergies” last week turned into full-blown illness by Friday afternoon. He’s been out of school so far this week. As I was driving him to the doctor’s, I felt that familiar and unwanted ache as well, and I’m sick too. The kids has been decent about it today, as long as I keep the TV on.

the twisty slide this time:

The fiftieth try to get this video up:

From July…

From July…

I’m trying to get the video of Jim’s first day up. Here’s Colin demonstrating his mad slide skillz:

After two bad starts to our early morning test-runs, Jim behaved brilliantly this morning. Part of the problem was shower in the morning or the night before. Morning showering takes longer, but seemed to get him moving. But he choose to shower last night…

I got Jim up a little after 6.30, after I got my (wonderful alone) shower. I had to wake him up, but the mention of waffles waiting for him got him out of bed, into the bathroom, and downstairs in no time flat. He didn’t eat as much as a thought he would, but he ate. Then it was upstairs to get dressed — putting out the clothes last night was definitely helpful. He got dressed, brushed his teeth, I combed his hair, and he was ready to go.

Notice what’s missing in this morning to-do? I forgot his medication, but remembered after picture taking. I have to remember to get him to take it before he goes upstairs to get dressed.

After Jim got on the bus, we went back home so Colin and I could have breakfast. Then we got the van inspected, did some shopping, and came home and hung out. I gave Colin a snack and let him in a regular chair without a booster. Then he helped me put away some more of the vacation stuff and unpack the last suitcase.

At noon I took Colin out to get him ready to pick Jim up. We cleaned up the garage a bit, and then headed up to get Jim. It was hot, so we hung out in the shade of one of the construction trucks parked in front of the model home. Jim’s bus arrived sooner than I expected, but I had to cross the road and get on the bus to get him, because he didn’t know that it was time to get off. It looks like he’s the last one on in the morning and the first off in the afternoon (which explains why the bus arrived pretty quickly).

According to Jim, kindergarten “was good”, he and one of his friends of last year played, one of the girls from last year rides the bus with him, and a boy on the bus shared some candy with him. His favorite part was having his buddy Gilly (a fish) with him.

Pictures forthcoming, and video too, once I get everything off the cameras.

After waiting 20 minutes for the bus. We thought we missed it, because one empty bus showed up and it to the driver a minute of shuffling through handwritten notes to decide the she wasn’t going to Jim’s school.

But then ten minutes later, Jim’s bus showed up, chock full of kids. He made his way to the back, and off he went!

The bus stop was FULL of kids (and lazy parents driving them to the stop). I think we could fill one bus if they were all going to the same school. But Jim is the only kid going to his school.

Colin and I are off to run errands. Get the mom van inspected, etc. Maybe get Jim a treat for when he gets home.

It’s 6.30a, the house is still quiet. Jim leaves for school in 45 minutes.

I got up at six, turned on the oven and put in the waffle I made last night for him, so that it would be warm when I got done showering.

The video camera battery is charged, and the digital is standing by.

Last night, we put out Jim’s clothes, belt and shoes. There was a bit of hesitation on his part, not liking his uniform shirt (he wanted to wear his Iron Man shirt!) because it was plain, until I pointed out the writing (his school name).

His snack is packed, in his lunch box, along with a laminated photo of mom, dad, colin, and mike. I stuck a little “we love you” note on the photo before laminating it.

Time to wake up our little big guy…